초록 ▼

Multiple subsidiary small payloads are connected to standard mechanical and electrical interfaces provided by an expendable or recoverable modular mother satellite bus (MMSB) and launched into space as an assembly acting as a common carrier providing low unit launch costs for the attached subsidiary

Multiple subsidiary small payloads are connected to standard mechanical and electrical interfaces provided by an expendable or recoverable modular mother satellite bus (MMSB) and launched into space as an assembly acting as a common carrier providing low unit launch costs for the attached subsidiary payloads and also providing a variety of electrical, pointing, and thermal control services for these payloads after reaching orbit. These services include but are not necessarily limited to controlled separation of free-flying satellites or re-entry vehicles, regulated electric power at a variety of voltages, telemetry, computer control, payload control via time delayed pre-programmed instructions, optional real-time payload control via direct radio communication or transmission through geostationary or other communication satellite links, time-driven or event-driven control logic, mass data memory, encryption and decryption of data and commands, payload pointing, augmented heat rejection, and interconnection between subsidiary attached payloads through the data bus.

대표청구항 ▼

A self-contained, unmanned spacecraft adapted to be launched into space by a launch vehicle and subsequently separated therefrom, the spacecraft adapted to carry one or more subsidiary attached payloads and to provide bus services to each of said one or more payloads upon separation of the spacecraf

A self-contained, unmanned spacecraft adapted to be launched into space by a launch vehicle and subsequently separated therefrom, the spacecraft adapted to carry one or more subsidiary attached payloads and to provide bus services to each of said one or more payloads upon separation of the spacecraft from the launch vehicle, the spacecraft comprising: a main structural body; one or more standardized mechanical and electronic interface means for mechanically and electronically attaching each of said one or more subsidiary attached payloads to said main structural body of the spacecraft; means operative through said interface means for controlling the function of each of said one or more subsidiary payloads; means operative through said interface means for providing spacecraft electric power and computer/controller and data bus resources to each of said one or more subsidiary attached payloads; means operative through said interface means for retrieving data from said one or more subsidiary attached payloads; and means for permitting communication between the spacecraft and external source.